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Does archaeology support the Bible?
TruthOrTradition.com ^ | 2008

Posted on 03/19/2010 8:34:02 PM PDT by restornu

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1 posted on 03/19/2010 8:34:04 PM PDT by restornu
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To: restornu
The Bible's primary purpose is not that of a history book. Holy Scripture in its entirety was not written from beginning to end like a novel or a textbook. It is, rather, the echo of God's history with his people. It arose out of the struggles and the vagaries of this history, and all through it we can catch a glimpse of the rises and falls, the sufferings and hopes, and the greatness and failures of this history. The Bible is thus the story of God's struggle with human beings to make himself understandable to them over the course of time; but it is also the story of their struggle to seize hold of God over the course of time.

Regardless of how closely archaeological finding match the Scriptural narrative nothing exists that does not owe its existence to God the Creator. The world began when God's word drew it out of nothingness; all existent beings, all of nature, and all human history are rooted in this primordial event, the very genesis by which the world was constituted and time begun.

2 posted on 03/19/2010 8:43:22 PM PDT by Natural Law
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To: restornu

Does the bible support reality?
Its a book of parables and fables and allegories based on fact that are supposed to give inspiration to make one a better person.
Anyone that takes the bible literally is nuts.


3 posted on 03/19/2010 8:47:07 PM PDT by lefty-lie-spy (Stay metal. For the Horde \m/("_")\m/ - via iPhone from Tokyo.)
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To: restornu
Tomorrow we will go to the Milwaukee Public Museum to see the exhibit “The Dead Sea Scrolls and The Bible, Ancient Artifacts, Timeless Treasures. We are taking my Parents. They had a life long dream trip planned to go to the Holy Land about 10 years ago which was canceled due to my Father having a heart attack. They never got to go. Now my Father is in poor health and showing the signs of Alzheimer's. So this will prob. be the closest he gets. It is supposed to be an awesome exhibit.

As far as the Bible goes...My tag line pretty much sums it up as far as I'm concerned.

4 posted on 03/19/2010 8:54:09 PM PDT by Blackhawk (God said it, I believe it, That settles it. Forever. Amen.)
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To: restornu

I’ve read that there is archeological evidence for the existence of Pontius Pilate, because his name was on the dedication stone of a theater. Also, I read that King David had been disparaged by archeologists as probably only a minor local chieftain, until a reference to “King” David was found in the writings of some other nearby culture.

I agree, though, with Natural Law, that the Bible isn’t a history book. It’s a love story about God and his people.

Archeologists can’t prove or disprove the Bible, but they can use the Bible as a reference tool, since it does refer to various historical events.


5 posted on 03/19/2010 8:55:04 PM PDT by married21
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To: restornu
If, time after time, archaeology substantiates statements the Bible makes about the past, it would be logical to conclude that because the Bible is reliable historically, it must be reliable when it speaks of salvation, the coming of Christ, the Judgment, and everlasting life.

Wow. That's a HUGH leap!
Historical accuracy does not automatically validate magical claims.

6 posted on 03/19/2010 8:55:23 PM PDT by JustCallMeFrank
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To: lefty-lie-spy

Read Rohl’s book before you spew ignorantly. If you’d done any actual research...even cursory, you’d not embarrass yourself.


7 posted on 03/19/2010 8:57:34 PM PDT by dasboot
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To: lefty-lie-spy

Completely agree.

Besides, the advocated child slaughter in 1 Samuel 15: 2-3 doesn’t seem divinely inspired.


8 posted on 03/19/2010 8:59:57 PM PDT by James C. Bennett
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To: lefty-lie-spy

i guess there a lot of nutty folks out there.... and yes republicans have to show more spine everywhere...


9 posted on 03/19/2010 9:03:05 PM PDT by rusureitflies? (OSAMA BIN LADEN IS DEAD! There, I said it. Prove me wrong.)
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To: lefty-lie-spy; James C. Bennett

“Anyone that takes the bible literally is nuts.”

That comment in and of itself is literally nuts - and grossly uninformed.


10 posted on 03/19/2010 9:03:58 PM PDT by PetroniusMaximus
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To: lefty-lie-spy; JustCallMeFrank

Ya’ll go ahead and put me in the “nuts” category then. I’m fine with that. I’m not afraid of taking God at His word, nor do I need historical accuracy of this or that to validate what I’ve experienced personally. It’s validated to me in me. I know this God and I recognize His voice.


11 posted on 03/19/2010 9:09:33 PM PDT by MaryContrary
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To: lefty-lie-spy; restornu
Its a book of parables and fables and allegories based on fact that are supposed to give inspiration to make one a better person.

"Experts" once claimed the city of Ur was a myth. Archeaologists found Ur in it's Biblical location.

"Experts" once dismissed the book of Daniel as a forgery. The earliest known copies were written after the events clearly described in it's "prophesies." Later, copies of the book of Daniel predating the Prophesies were found.

lefty-lie-spy, are you an Expert?

12 posted on 03/19/2010 9:11:05 PM PDT by Grizzled Bear (Does not play well with others.)
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To: Natural Law; lefty-lie-spy

The Bible wasn’t intended to be a historical work, but it is one. It’s authorship is not known, and it’s purpose is to teach faith, but it also contains long lists of who did what and where they did it. There are not a lot of records extant from those days. The Romans weren’t there for most of the Old Testament days and the Greeks didn’t leave much about Israel. Neither did the Israelis, apparently, except for The Torah, The Bible and some of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The debate about historical accuracy of The Bible is a very important one. We can take it as an article of faith and a guide to life, but at the same time, we want to know about the people who lived when it was written. Thus we wonder, how accurate are the stories?


13 posted on 03/19/2010 9:11:09 PM PDT by sig226 (Bring back Jimmy Carter!)
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To: MaryContrary
I'm not calling people who believe in the Bible nuts.

I spent 20 years as a Christian. I was a Sunday School teacher, church pianist, youth group worker, and deacon. Losing my faith was a long, painful process involving years of studying, and yes, praying.

I was only commenting on the statement that historical accuracy somehow gives credence to Biblical claims about the supernatural.

14 posted on 03/19/2010 9:18:08 PM PDT by JustCallMeFrank
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To: JustCallMeFrank

Same here. See #8.


15 posted on 03/19/2010 9:19:57 PM PDT by James C. Bennett
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To: sig226
Thus we wonder, how accurate are the stories? There's plenty of scholarship on the subject. Just look for it.
16 posted on 03/19/2010 9:20:56 PM PDT by dasboot
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To: Natural Law
The Bible's primary purpose is not that of a history book. Holy Scripture in its entirety was not written from beginning to end like a novel or a textbook. It is, rather, the echo of God's history with his people. It arose out of the struggles and the vagaries of this history, and all through it we can catch a glimpse of the rises and falls, the sufferings and hopes, and the greatness and failures of this history. The Bible is thus the story of God's struggle with human beings to make himself understandable to them over the course of time; but it is also the story of their struggle to seize hold of God over the course of time. Regardless of how closely archaeological finding match the Scriptural narrative nothing exists that does not owe its existence to God the Creator. The world began when God's word drew it out of nothingness; all existent beings, all of nature, and all human history are rooted in this primordial event, the very genesis by which the world was constituted and time begun.

The Bible is 'HIS-story', and from Genesis to HIS birth in the flesh is His historical record.

Paul says ICorinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: (examples) and they are written for our admonition, (warning), upon whom the ends of the world (age) are come.

For any who would can read the 'script' and have at least a general idea of where we are in time appointed, and what to expect next. The Heavenly Father needs no man created/formed filtration system to speak to whom ever He decides to speak to. He put His WORD into print.

17 posted on 03/19/2010 9:28:20 PM PDT by Just mythoughts
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To: lefty-lie-spy
Does the bible support reality? Its a book of parables and fables and allegories based on fact that are supposed to give inspiration to make one a better person. Anyone that takes the bible literally is nuts.

People have the 'right' to believe whatever they decide to believe. I can't wait for the day when people that ridicule the WORD of God get a front row seat and find out how far out in left field they literally are.

18 posted on 03/19/2010 9:33:11 PM PDT by Just mythoughts
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To: restornu

IF Rahab was a hooker, why did she have enough flax drying on her roof to hide two men?


19 posted on 03/19/2010 9:36:57 PM PDT by Just mythoughts
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To: restornu

I find there are usually 3 kinds of opinions. 1) People who beleive without question. 2) People who reject without any research. 3) People who don’t care.
I used to be in the number two category until I did my homework. Now I can make an honest opinion and say without any doubt that the Bible is truly a facsinating and historical document that dates thousands of years of middle east history. It is also a very short version of hundreds of thousands of scrolls, books, prophetic writings, generational stories and eye witness testimonies. It also merges all this information from many different civilizations..Accadian, Chaldean, Egyption, Sumerian, Hebrew, just to name a few. Do your research on Bible History instead of trying to just read the Bible itself. As far as proof there is a God or Gods? That is for you to decide!


20 posted on 03/19/2010 9:40:07 PM PDT by rwoodward (Lucas)
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